Tests of visceral hypersensitivity and main pitfalls
| Method | Summary of predominant pitfalls/unclear significance |
|---|---|
| Thresholds | Unclear significance relative to patient symptoms and prediction of responsiveness to therapy; assesses initial and pain thresholds rather than broad range of sensation |
| Sensation of phasic distension | Unclear significance relative to patient symptoms and prediction of responsiveness to therapy; fewer centres use this method; assesses range of sensations |
| Brain imaging | Expensive, questionably applicable to practice; signal to noise ratio; complicated analyses; blood flow changes in sensory centres influenced by vigilance, unpleasantness, intensity of stimulus, and possibly sex |